[Poster's note: Long repeats of international articles already sent out
to the east-timor list (info@etan.org) have been removed.]

UNOTIL

Daily Media Review

Compiled by the Public Information Office from national and international
sources

Tuesday, 13 September 2005

National Media Reports

CNE Investigates PSD Allegations

One of the Commissioners of the National Electoral Commission (CNE)
Carmelita Moniz has told reporters that the Commission is investigating
allegations brought by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) regarding
manipulation of PSD candidate lists for the village chief elections in
Comoro, Dili. Speaking to journalists from her office on Monday, Monis said
that the Commissioners have been investigating the case since Saturday, by
carrying out 'cross-checks' with relevant persons, in an attempt to
substantiate the allegations. Moniz asked the population to be patient in
waiting for the results of the investigation, as the CNE is attempting to
manage a wide range of tasks with limited human resources. She added that
the Commissioners are working on a voluntary basis, and must be mindful not
to neglect their paid jobs. (TP, STL)

Women's Caucus Provides Training to Women Candidates

The Women's organization "Women's Caucus" last Friday provided training to
Democratic Party (PD) women candidates for the upcoming village elections.
PD has nominated five women candidates for the elections, as village and
youth representatives. Speaking to journalists on Monday, Candidature
Coordinator Rui Menezes explained that the training focused on the
candidate's future participation in the village councils, as well as how to
prepare effective campaign strategies. He added that the principle
objective of the training was to teach the women candidates about the key
problems and issues relevant to running campaigns at the village level.
According to Caucus Director Teresinha M. N. Cardoso, some of the most
useful campaign techniques include door-to-door visits and holding campaign
functions in public places. She said that this kind of training is very
important for women, as women face many obstacles to political involvement
including a lack of access to information. Cardoso added that PD is the
only political party so far to have requested Caucus to provide training
directly to their women candidates. (TP, STL)

Three Ex-Militia Remain in Detention

The detention of three ex-militia members, Mariano Barros (35), Lino dos
Santos (25), and Bartolomeu Godinho (22), from the group Hametin Merah
Putih (HMP), who recently illegally entered Timor-Leste territory from West
Timor while looking for wood, was extended on Friday by the judge. The
defence lawyer for the three ex-militia stated to reporters that his
clients became members of HMP in 1999, against their will. According to
the defence lawyer, his clients were not involved in any murder, arson or
other crimes during the 1999 crisis, and that they simply witnessed what
others were doing. He reportedly added that they were brought to court in
relation to 1999 crimes, and not due to their illegal entry into
Timor-Leste territory, and that he is unhappy with the extended detention
order. (TP, STL)

No Casualites Following Incidents at the Border

Speaking to the media on Monday, PNTL's Deputy Commander Ismail Babo stated
that the recent actions taken by some Indonesian citizens residing near the
border between Oecussi and Kefamanu (West Timor) against the technical team
conducting the border-line demarcation caused no casualties. According to
Babo, the actions were due to the fact that some Indonesian citizens in the
border area were not quite sure of the process of border line demarcation,
adding that they presented their concerns by protesting against the work of
the technical team. Moreover, Babo said that due to the collaboration of
the security team of both Timor-Leste and Indonesia, the situation remained
under control. (TP, Diario)

Request to Increase Military Police Numbers

F-FDTL Military Police Commander Abel da Costa alias Niky has reportedly
said that he requested the Chief of Staff, Colonel Lere Anan Timor to
increase the number of military police for the First Battalion. Niky said
that legislation must be established in order for the military police to
carry their duties, adding that this is one of the problems in addition to
the lack of communications and transports. He stressed that these problems
limit the work of the military police and so far they have attended to four
cases involving F-FDTL officers adding that PNTL remains responsible for
civil cases in the meantime. (TP, STL)

Regional Media Reports

East Timor National Soccer Federation Joins FIFA

The East Timor Football Federation (FFTL) was admitted Monday as the 206th
member of FIFA at a congress of soccer's world governing body. Timor's
national football association was formed in 2001 and the world's newest
nation was affiliated to the Asian Football Confederation in 2002. The
FFTL, with some 13,000 members in a country of about 800,000 inhabitants,
was backed by 198 FIFA delegates, with one vote against. (Lusa)